Bootle dog bite candidate Joe Benton retains seat

Mr Benton is being treated at Whiston Hospital

A veteran Labour MP who was unable to attend his count after being attacked by a dog secured the Merseyside seat with an overwhelming majority.

Joe Benton, 77, who has been MP for Bootle since 1990, was attacked while canvassing on Wednesday.

He held the seat with a 66.4% share of the vote and a 21,181 majority. There was a 1.6% swing to the Liberal Democrats, who came second.

Mr Benton was taken to Whiston Hospital after the incident.

He had been pushing leaflets through the letterbox of a house in Gonville Road when he was attacked.

He had the tip of his finger bitten off and fell to the ground, hitting his head.

The MP was treated at a specialist regional plastic surgery unit, where doctors said it was impossible to save the tip of the index finger of his right hand.

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